To Our Amazing THON Dancers,
In less than a week you will be standing for 46 straight hours. Not only did you volunteer to do this, but some of you also worked hard just to enter the raffle to dance. Each one of you will smile, laugh, cry, dance, stand, and make memories that will last a lifetime with over 700 of your newest best friends alongside you.
You all have put your heart into THON. We have watched you go canning for hours, step up for every position in your Organization, and talk about our THON children like they are your own. For 46 hours, people will come and go in the stands of the BJC, however none of you will. Despite the fact that the crowd attendance will fluctuate, each one of us there will be cheering you on because we know how amazing every one of you is. Your dedication to our organization, to THON, to the families, to the children, and to everyone affected by children's pediatric cancer is unparalleled. Cancer touches everyone's life in some way, however you are going to stand for 46 hours to make sure one day that thought is eradicated.
You do not complain about standing, but rather you become excited for it. You count down the days until you are on the floor, and you never complain about the tasks that lie ahead. By hour 46 you will be exhausted, your feet will hurt, you will just want to shower, and yet you will never complain. You look forward to the final four, as it is the most touching hours of your entire life. You tell everyone you know that you are dancing because you are aware this is a life changing event. You will be on the floor dancing with our amazing children and families, who are the reason you do these things.
The Penn State student body raises money all year for the families so near and dear to our heart. We raise money so our children can hear "remission is close." We raise money so our families can hear "cancer free." In long term, we raise money so "children" and "cancer" are two words never put together again. However, you all were chosen to be the lucky 700 to represent all the things our student body does and what THON stands for. You were chosen because each one of you eats, sleeps, and breathes THON. You were chosen because we know you are up to the task of making this THON amazing, not only for the students, but also for the families and children there. We, the Penn State students, would like to think we are your biggest fans. However, your biggest fans are the ones who will be with you on that floor. Each one of you is extraordinary, selfless, kind, and caring. The Penn State students see it, the THON organization sees it, and our Four Diamond's families see it. Good luck to all of you, exceeding all expectations.
We THON this weekend!!